I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

As I mentioned Adam and I went to the theater last night.  

In Boston.

From Portland to Boston is only a 2-hour drive. 

Door to door.

Assuming there is no traffic.  

Assuming.

Therefore, you have to give yourself ample time.  Sometimes it’s 2 hours.  Sometimes it’s 4.

We left at 2:00 for our 5:00 dinner reservation. 

Yesterday wasn’t too bad and we arrived around 4:15. Our restaurant didn’t open till 5:00, so we had a few minutes to spare.  Adam pulled out his lovely answer box and discovered there wasn’t much else open save for a Mexican place about two blocks from us.

We walked there and when we arrived, it was fairly non-descript space on a corner on a side street.  There was only one other table occupied.  The staff was clearly prepping for the evening service, as a bartender was cutting fruit and a server was rolling silverware.

An older Hispanic gentleman was at the lone table trying to take their order.  He motioned for us to sit anywhere and went back to the table.  There was a language barrier as he spoke mostly Spanish and they spoke mostly English.  

Finally, he got their order, and brought us two menus.  

He went to put their order in, grabbled silverware for us, and came back to the table.

We explained that we only wanted drinks and we ordered two Aperol spritzes.  

He went on his way, as Adam and I chatted about the show, our dinner plans, and new eye glasses.  We both need them.  

What seemed like forever passed and he brought our drinks.

He explained that he’d run out of Aperol, at least that’s what we think he said through broken English, but we do know he apologized, was very sweet and sat our drinks in front of us. 

We toasted, blew each other a kiss, and took a sip.  

It was an Aperol spritz of some sort, but it was clearly not traditional.  It was not bad by any means, and served its purpose by giving us something to do before dinner.  

We were sitting there chatting, when the gentleman approached the table again.  

He apologized for the Aperol spritzes and sat two new drinks in front of us.  

He explained that the first two drinks were not of the quality he liks, so he’d brought us something better.  We were so surprised, and protested, but he would have none of it.  

He insisted.

He walked away to serve the three other tables that had arrived since we sat.

We toasted and tasted the most wonderful coconut concoction, booze forward, especially for having to drive later, but delicious.  

We continued to sip them until around 4:45 and then we asked for the check by doing the official sign for we need a check.    

He came back to the table and told us there would be no charge, as we didn’t get what we ordered and he wanted us to leave happy.  

We were stunned, but Adam was having no part of it.  He insisted that we pay, because when you own a 40-seat restaurant, every penny counts. 

Finally, the man acquiesced and took Adam’s credit card.  A few minutes later he returned.  He’d charged us for 1 drink.  

We tipped more than the check and made a promise to come back, and not only have drinks but have dinner as well, as the menu looked amazing.  

Another table was coming in as we made our exit, and we walked hand in hand to our restaurant.